History Main / PrisonShip

* Iron Heights, a prison that traditionally holds Franchise/TheFlash's enemies appears in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', reimagined as an airship that crashes into the waters outside of Gotham and had captured Killer Croc [[spoiler:for the purpose of experimenting on him and other inmates.]]

* The Prison Transport: this modestly-sized vessel is either designed or modified to transport prisoners between facilities, not hold them permanently. The transport spaceship in ''Film/PitchBlack'' is not an example as it had only one prisoner strapped in; the rest of the occupants were paying passengers. Conversely the prison transport in the ''Series/{{Lexx}}'' miniseries would count because his divine shadow is just that thorough. In fiction, there are often depictions of criminal gangs [[InescapableAmbush ambushing]] or hijacking the prison transport to free their comrades, or to capture a rival gang leader who they want to "[[DeadlyEuphemism deal with]]".

* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': In Gotham, Blackgate Prison (located on an island in the harbour) has used a modified barge as overflow housing for less dangerous prisoners. Cluemaster once planned a [[GreatEscape mass breakout]] that involved cutting the barge loose and having it picked up by [[APirate400YearsTooLate modern-day pirate Cap'n Fear]].

* In both [[Series/{{Roots}} the original]] and [[Series/Roots2016 the remake]] of ''Roots'', Mandinka warrior in training Kunta Kinte is brought aboard a slave ship where he has to endure three long months inside the cargo hold during the Middle Passage. Although he starts a revolt in an attempt to kill any unnecessary crewmen, and keep the rest alive to sail them back to Africa, the uprising fails, and he and the rest of the Africans are brought to the Maryland coast, [[AuctionOfEvil where they are bought by numerous plantation owners]] and [[MadeASlave Kunta ends up in John Weller's plantation.]]

* In ''Series/MiraiSentaiTimeranger'', the villains hijack a Prison Ship and name themselves after it.

* In ''VideoGame/FTLFasterThanLight'', you can come across a [[SpacePirate slaver ship]] whose crew will either gladly sell you one of their slaves or attack you if you don't hand them over one of ''your'' crewmembers. Put enough dents in their hull and they may decide to give you a slave for free instead. Smugglers hiding in SpaceClouds and the Rebel transport ships may also turn out to be a prisoner transport, as do several other ships if you kill their crew without destroying the hull.

A Prison Ship is a penitentiary, correctional facility, or jail that typically moves under its own power (though some prisoner transports have to be towed). Often featured to highlight the questionable moral standards of the villains or enemy force, the heroics of protagonist in withstanding the cramped conditions, a setting for a prison story, or to add movement and interest to what would otherwise be a static setting. It's also an easy way to set up TheAlcatraz; in the middle of the ocean or in space, there's nowhere to escape ''to''.

A Prison Ship is a penitentiary, correctional facility, or jail that moves under its own power. Often featured to highlight the questionable practices of villains, the heroics of protagonist, a setting in itself, or just to move the story along. It's also an easy way to set up TheAlcatraz; in the middle of the ocean or in space, there's nowhere to escape ''to''.

* The Jail Ship: often a setting in and of itself, this large vessel is usually purpose built to hold prisoners permanently, often for unscrupulous deeds committed outside of the jurisdiction. Prisons ships include those that are mobile under their power and old demobilized ships that are kept at the docks.

* The Jail Ship: often a setting in and of itself, this large vessel is usually purpose built to hold prisoners permanently, often for unscrupulous deeds committed outside of the jurisdiction. It needs to be large enough for cells (or stasis pods with life-support equipment if the prisoners are in HumanPopsicle mode), guard quarters, guard stations, food preparation facilities, recreational areas, an infirmary, and so on. As well, it needs some self-defense capacities to protect the Prison Ship from attackers who hope to free their comrades.

Despite the name of the trope, it covers any mobile jail or prison transport, including trains and planes.